CNBC got the scoop yesterday afternoon when they interviewed McGraw-Hill’s CEO, Terry McGraw. The publishing company, which is one of the world’s largest textbook publishers, has penned a deal with Apple to offer select textbooks to students through the iPhone and, he let slip, the forthcoming Apple tablet.
In fact, he specifically said Tablet and also said it would be based on the iPhone operating system, making it “transferable.” The Chief Executive was so excited about the new deal, he seems to have slipped and let the cat out of the bag before Apple’s big event, which is to unveil today.
The buzz is all over with everyone from Macrumors to the LA Times and the Huffington Post getting in on the surprise revelation before Apple’s big day.
Of course, no everyone thinks the McGraw slip was accidental. Andrew Munchbach at the Boy Genius Report seems to think it was another part of Apple’s media leaks to generation buzz. It’s certainly done so, with the focus now being on what the new tablet will look like, when it will be available for sale, and various details rather than on the announcement of the tablet itself.
Whatever the announcement, the cat is definitely out of the bag. Rumors have Apple in 11th hour negotiations with other publishers, which up until now included McGraw-Hill who seems to have happily signed on. The CEO also said that the publisher already has several titles ready for the new Apple tablet.
